Electric potential generation of electrocytes: Modelling, analysis, and computation

Xiulei Cao; Zilong Song; Tzyy-Leng Horng; Huaxiong Huang

doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2019.110107

Electric potential generation of electrocytes: Modelling, analysis, and computation

J Theor Biol. 2020 Feb 21:487:110107. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2019.110107. Epub 2019 Dec 10.

Authors

Xiulei Cao¹, Zilong Song¹, Tzyy-Leng Horng², Huaxiong Huang³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, Canada.
² Department of Applied Mathematics, Feng Chia University, Taichung 40724, Taiwan; National Center for Theoretical Sciences, Taipei Office, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
³ Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, Canada; BNU-UIC Joint Mathematical Research Centre, Zhuhai, China; Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: hhuang@uic.edu.hk.

PMID: 31836504
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2019.110107

Abstract

In this paper, we developed a one-dimensional model for electric potential generation of electrocytes in electric eels. The model is based on the Poisson-Nernst-Planck system for ion transport coupled with membrane fluxes including the Hodgkin-Huxley type. Using asymptotic analysis, we derived a simplified zero-dimensional model, which we denote as the membrane model in this paper, as a leading order approximation. Our analysis provides justification for the assumption in membrane models that electric potential is constant in the intracellular space. This is essential to explain the superposition of two membrane potentials that leads to a significant transcellular potential. Numerical simulations are also carried out to support our analytical findings.

Keywords: Asymptotic analysis; Electrocyte; Numerical simulation; Poisson–Nernst–Planck system; Voltage generation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Electric Conductivity
Intracellular Space
Ion Transport
Membrane Potentials
Models, Theoretical*